Read Write Inc

Who is Read Write Inc.Phonics for?

The Read Write Inc. Phonics programme is for primary school children learning to read. It enables every child to become a confident and fluent reader at the first attempt. Every child who completes Read Write Inc. Phonics learns to read fluently and confidently.

We also have another programme, Read Write Inc. Fresh Start, for upper primary and secondary school children learning to read. This uses exactly the same method but uses age appropriate texts.

Using our method:

· Children in the early years learn to read confidently and fluently.

· Older children with reading difficulties make fast progress.

· Children with specific learning difficulties learn to read.

The reading teacher is guided from the very beginning to help the children become confident and fluent readers (the first time they learn).

Why does it work?

· The systematic and lively programme is organised by an in - school manager

· All staff (teachers and assistants) are trained together by one of our trainers who has taught and managed the programme

· The children read and write for an hour each day, grouped according to their reading level.

· Children do not struggle because the work is too difficult or get bored because the work is too easy.

· A few children who need extra support to maintain progress work with a reading tutor (teaching assistant) for 10 minutes in the afternoons to ensure that they do not fall behind their peers.

Ask your child about this character!

at Ninian Park Primary School

Supporting at home

With Read, Write Inc we are using pure sounds, (‘m’ not’ muh’, ’s’ not ‘suh’, etc) so that your child will be able to blend the sounds into words more easily.

These first sounds should all be stretched slightly. Try to avoid saying uh after each one: eg /mm/ not muh, /ss/ not suh, /ff/ not fuh.

m – mmmmmmountain (keep lips pressed together hard)

s – sssssnake (keep teeth together and hiss – unvoiced)

n – nnnnnnet (keep tongue behind teeth)

f – ffffflower (keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out sharply – unvoiced)

l – llllleg (keep pointed curled tongue behind teeth).

r – rrrrrrobot (say rrr as if you are growling)

v – vvvvvvulture (keep teeth on bottom lip and force air out gently)

z – zzzzzzig zzzzzag (keep teeth together and make a buzzing sound)

th – thhhhank you ( stick out tongue and breathe out sharply)

sh – shhhh (make a shhh noise as though you are telling somebody to be quiet!)

ng – thinnnnngg on a strinnnngg (curl your tongue at the back of your throat)

nk – I think I stink (make a piggy oink noise without the oi! nk nk nk)

These next sounds cannot be stretched. Make the sound as short as possible avoiding uh at the end of the sound:

t – (tick tongue behind the teeth – unvoiced)

p - (make distinctive p with lips – unvoiced)

k – (make sharp click at back of throat)

c - as above

h – (say h as you breathe sharply out – unvoiced)

ch - (make a short sneezing sound)

x – (say a sharp c and add s – unvoiced)

You will find it harder to avoid saying uh at the end of these sounds.

d – (tap tongue behind the teeth).

g – (make soft sound in throat).

b –(make a short, strong b with lips).

j – (push lips forward).

y – (keep edges of tongue against teeth).

w – (keep lips tightly pursed).

qu – (keep lips pursed as you say cw – unvoiced).

The short vowels should be kept short and sharp:

a: a-a-a (open mouth wide as if to take a bite of an apple).

e: e-e-e (release mouth slightly from a position).

i: i-i-i (make a sharp sound at the back of the throat – smile).

o: o–o-o (push out lips, make the mouth into o shape).

u: u-u-u (make a sound in the throat).

The long vowel sounds are all stretchy sounds

ay: ay may I play

ee: ee what do you see?

igh: fly high

ow: blow the snow

oo: poo at the zoo

oo: look at a book

ar: start the car

or: shut the door

air: that’s not fair

ir: whirl and twirl

ou: shout it out

oy: toy for a boy

All our teachers and teaching assistants have been trained in the Read, Write Inc programme and they can show you how to pronounce these sounds. We hope that you will not hesitate to ask for any help. We are here for your child!

The children are taught the sounds in 3 sets.

Set 1 Sounds are taught in the following order:

m a s d t i

n p g o c k

u b f e l h

sh r j v y w

th z qu ch x ng nk

How to say the set 1 sounds